Bonafede reflects on the season so far With a six week gap between an excellent performance in the streets of Durban in June and round six of the Bridgestone Production Car championship at Phakisa on 03 August, Gennaro Bonafede has had time to reflect on the season so far. Driving the Ferodo Audi S4, the 22-year old Pretoria University student is currently lying sixth in the championship, just three points behind BMW driver Johan Fourie. What people seem to forget is that 2013 marks his first full season in class A and he is the youngest driver in what is regarded as the premier class of South African motorsport. The year started on a challenging note when mechanical gremlins blunted his performance at Kyalami. The series then headed for the Mother city of Cape Town for round two and he silenced his critics by holding off reigning champion Michael Stephen to win a nail-biting feature race. The next stop was the Windy City, aka Port Elizabeth, and solid performances in all three races saw him cement his ‘rising star’ reputation. Zwartkops hosted the fourth leg but an opening lap accident in the first race compromised his day. “I left my braking a split second too late and that was that. I’m human! From then on we were on the backfoot even though I was driving as hard as I could.” As was the case last year, a round of the Bridgestone Production Car championship supported the Durban Top Gear Festival in June. In 2012 Bonafede took the Ferodo backed Golf to an emphatic class T win and his precision driving between the walls ensured he’d be a threat this year. In a thrilling cat and mouse second race he finished runner-up behind Michael Stephen. “I was really enjoying the track, but I didn’t get an opportunity to try passing him. I was faster than him, but there isn’t much room between the concrete barriers and I didn’t want to risk a good result. At this point of the season there’s no need for a win at all costs mentality.” In July he attended a different pace of race when he and girlfriend Miss Earth SA 2012, Tamerin Jardine were hosted at the famous Durban July horse race. “It was good to spend some time at the July because it has been a challenging five races. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being negative but it feels like I should be in the top three as we head into the last four rounds. The car is great… it can win but luck hasn’t been with us. We just need to continue the form we had in Durban and I’m pretty sure there are a few more wins in the pipeline,” said the Monster athlete. Gennaro Bonafede has been racing since he was five years old and is proud to be associated with Ferodo, Audi, Monster Energy, Sasol, Portable Shade and Superga. Issued on behalf of Gennaro Bonafede by; Steve Wicks
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:26:46 +0000
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